Archives for May 2007
Vista supports Pentax RAW camera images
Stephen Shankland, CNET.com | May 16, 2007
Pentax has released software that lets Windows Vista read and manipulate RAW images taken directly from higher-end Pentax cameras' image sensors without in-camera processing.
Microsoft announced on its photo blog the availability of the Pentax codec used to encode and decode raw images.
RAW images are popular among professionals and enthusiasts who want more elaborate control over their photography, but supporting RAW formats is tough, mostly because there's largely no standard from one camera to the next. Pentax is unusual among digital SLR (single-lens reflex) camera makers in that its high-end model, the K10D, supports Adobe Systems' DNG (digital negative) format that attempts to bring some standardization to the RAW image realm. The RAW codec now available supports the .PEF format used in several Pentax digital SLR cameras.
Adobe and Apple write their own RAW codecs, but Microsoft chose to partner with camera manufacturers to supply their own for the higher-end image-handling components in Windows Vista.
Via CNET Crave
LG Prada Phone: Unboxed, not stripped
Damian Koh | May 16, 2007
We've hounded LG Singapore for the longest time about the availability of the Prada Phone. Now it's here, we're presenting shots of the fashion phone being unboxed.
At a recent launch for its Shine handsets, LG Singapore told CNET Asia that there will be only 1,000 Prada units available in the island-state. Each of these is expected to cost S$1,288 (US$847.37). For now, here's a glimpse of what you can expect from the LG-Prada collaboration.
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Eyebox: Here's looking at you, honey
Will Greenwald, CNET.com | May 16, 2007
The next time to you look at an advertisement, it might be looking back at you, thanks to a new product from a company called Xuuk. According to Engadget, the strangely-named company is developing the Eyebox, a US$1,000 camera that can track people looking at it. The palm-sized device uses an infrared light to determine which passers-by are looking at it. It can be mounted on billboards in stores to see just how many people are looking at the latest movie poster or the weekend clearance sale.
Eyebox isn't the first eyeball-tracking product, but it's one of the smallest and cheapest. Older systems can cost as much as US$25,000 and are much more finicky to work with. US$1,000 is still a lot of money to count eyes, but probably plenty of advertisers and stores will think it's worth the price.
Of all the futuristic movies out there, Minority Report might turn out to be one of the most prophetic. The Eyebox can't identify individual people with retinal scans such as the eye-tracking cameras in that movie, but it's certainly coming close. Big Brother is watching you, and he has dozens of money-saving coupons.
Via CNET Crave
Apple releases new MacBook laptops
Caroline McCarthy | May 16, 2007
Apple announced on today that it has updated its MacBook laptops with faster processors, more memory and more hard drive space.
The new laptops are now available from Apple retail stores, product resellers and the company's online store.
The new consumer laptops, all of which are an inch thick and have a 13.3-inch display with 1,280 x 800-pixel widescreen resolution, are available in three models: White with the option of 2GHz or 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors, or black with the faster processor.
All three models are equipped with 1GB of RAM that can be expanded to 2GB of RAM. They also have built-in iSight video cameras, AirPort Extreme wireless cards capable of 802.11n wireless networking, two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire port.
The lower-end white MacBook, with a starting price of S$1,799 (US$1,183.55), comes with an 80GB hard drive; its 2.16GHz counterpart, which has a 120GB hard drive and a faster, double-layer support 8x SuperDrive DVD drive, costs S$2,188 (US$1,439.47). The black MacBook, identical to the faster white MacBook except for the color and a beefed-up 160GB hard drive, is priced at S$2,488 (US$1,636.84).
Apple also manufactures higher-end MacBook Pro laptops, which did not receive updates this week.
As reported on CNET's Crave blog on Monday morning, the new MacBooks do not include several features rumored to be included in their next iterations. Among those features are Intel "Santa Rosa" processors, solid-state hard drives and LED backlit displays.
USB Beverage Chiller
Juniper Foo | May 16, 2007
We've seen loads of USB heaters or plate warmers out there. This is the first USB Beverage Chiller we've come across that's actually designed to keep your drink cold rather than hot. So does it do the deed? The coldplate says it can chill to 45 degrees Farenheit (or 7.2 degrees Celsius). But anything that small and claiming to do the work of a chiller using just USB power sounds pretty dodgey. Still, if you're a USB collector and gotta have this, let us know if it's as hot, er, cool as it claims.
See larger image here
Price: US$29.99
Availability: Check it at ThinkGeek
Device: USB device
Specs: USB cable length 5ft, power consumption 5.75W, 5.25 x 3.25 x 1.4 inches
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